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Time's up: Epigenetic clocks in plants
Binh Thanh Vo1, Paloma Mas2, Frank Johannes1
1Plant Epigenomics, TUM School of Life Sciences, Technical University of Munich, 85354, Freising, Germany.
Current Opinion in Plant Biology
|July 18, 2024
Summary
Epigenetic clocks, used for aging in animals, are now found in plants. These plant clocks operate on different timescales, from daily rhythms to evolutionary changes, offering new insights into biological time.
Area of Science:
- Plant biology
- Epigenetics
- Aging research
Background:
- DNA methylation measurements have been instrumental in developing accurate epigenetic clocks for aging in animals for over a decade.
- These animal epigenetic clocks surpass other molecular proxies in predicting organismal age.
- Emerging evidence indicates the existence of epigenetic clocks in plants.
Purpose of the Study:
- To classify and describe the different types of epigenetic clocks found in plants.
- To highlight the key features and biological basis of plant epigenetic clocks.
- To compare plant epigenetic clocks with those in animals, noting differences in temporal scales.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of DNA methylation patterns across various plant biological processes and timescales.
- Classification of observed epigenetic changes based on their temporal scale (circadian rhythms, aging, evolution).
- Comparative analysis of epigenetic clock mechanisms in plants versus animals.
Main Results:
- Identification of distinct epigenetic clocks in plants operating at different scales: circadian (24h), aging (weeks/centuries), and evolutionary (decades/millennia).
- Plant epigenetic clocks exhibit unique characteristics compared to animal clocks, including the potential to measure time beyond an individual's lifespan.
- The study provides a foundational classification of these plant-specific epigenetic phenomena.
Conclusions:
- Epigenetic clocks are a conserved but diversely manifested phenomenon across kingdoms.
- Plant epigenetic clocks offer novel perspectives on biological timekeeping, extending beyond individual lifespans.
- Further research into the biological basis of plant epigenetic clocks is warranted.
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